Engine Improvements Make These Updates Worthwhile Ford Inside News
July 21, 2014
By: Austin Rutherford
“Almost Heaven, West Virginia” was where FIN was invited to drive the new 2015 F-Series Super Duty and Ford Expedition. The scenery and serenity beautifully mixed with the beast-like nature of the vehicles tested. Also, with steep grade hill climbs and switchback narrow country roads, it turned out to be the perfect place to test the capabilities of the refreshed truck and SUV.
Super Duty
Although it does not appear to have changed at all for the 2015 model year, the most important part of the F-Series Super Duty has: the volume selling Scorpion 6.7-liter Diesel V-8 Powerstroke engine. The engine is now rated at a mind-blowing 440 horsepower and 860 foot-pounds of torque. We had the privilege to both drive and be driven in the Super Duty in different weight classes and different tow weight hauls.
One of the key improvements to the engine was the replacement of the turbocharger from the GT32 to the GT37 model. This uses a single, much larger compressor than the GT32’s duel compressor allowing for more power. The turbo heats up to 900 ˚C. Yes, Celsius, not Fahrenheit.
RV Towing
The first segment of the test drive was pulling fifth wheel RVs up the 7-8-% grade of I-64. The top speed (the pedal was pushed to the floor) and MPG of the Chevy Silverado 3500, Ram 3500, and F-350 were compared during the climb at the same point near the top of the steepest grade of the climb.
The Chevy Silverado 3500 was equipped with the 6.6-liter V-8 Duramax Diesel, which is rated at 397 horsepower and 765 foot-pounds of torque. Both horsepower and torque are much lower than the F-350’s and it showed on the climb. The max speed was 58 MPH with 8.5 MPG.
The full sized truck segment has become as dull and unimaginative as the CUV things that are everywhere now. The uglier the better I guess... if it ain't broke...
(The one exception is the SVT Raptor)
As a side note, anybody that puts chrome "stacks" on their truck should be IQ tested before being allowed to tow 26,000lbs down the highway.
Have to hand it to Ford, they sure are quick with significant updates to their diesel.
Is it sad that these things really don't cost much less (if any) than a real truck? (Freightliner M2, International Durastar - now available without the junk Maxxforce!)
"This is due to the Expedition’s IRS, which also allows the Expedition to have adult sized third row seating, unlike the more child only seats the GM SUVs use."
I have sat in both the Ford and GM SUV XL. Both fit adults just fine, they fit me fine, I am 6'2". Even the Lambda seats are OK.
Pretty obvious the Expedition is an basic refresh to hold the model over for a total overhaul in 2-3 years. Next Expedition might even be based on Transit platform.
Super Duty is impressive except for interior. Ram seems to have taken the high ground there.
It's a decent read but found it to be riddled with spelling errors and juvenile-like comparisons (i.e. "This is due to the Expedition’s IRS, which also allows the Expedition to have adult sized third row seating, unlike the more child only seats the GM SUVs use.") that obviously serve the audience well (FIN vs. GMI).
On a more topic appropriate note, it seems to me that the Ford's F-Series & Super Duty trucks are Ford's top priority and their SUVs are still working with old architecture (i.e. "FIN came in with very low expectations for the Expedition seeing that much of its engineering dates back to 2003."). Ford's SUV is the equivalent to GM's Silverado in that it plays second (or third) fiddle to its main competition while the GM SUVs are the equivalent to Ford's truck series in that they pull no punches in what they offer to the consumer.
Saying all that I do think that GM has some rectifying with respect to the Silverado/Sierra trucks. It's time to take off the gloves and come to the ring ready to rumble! That or GM should become the MMA fighter of the trucks and step back from the HD ring until they take the segment more seriously in terms of what they bring to the table (styling & motor-wise). It's time, GM... It's time!
The current Duramax may not boast the same hp and torque numbers as the Powerstroke, but when packaged in the truck the latest tests are showing it can still pull loads up hills as fast or faster than the Powerstroke. Also, I don't believe either the Powerstroke or Cummins are SAE rated for HP and Torque, as the Duramax is.
You sure? As poorly as it did, you'd be better leaving it with the hp they stated. More horsepower with that awful real world performance? That's a joke!
Perhaps you clowns should read. It was obviously the new Ford engines v. the ones that are called new at Total Recall Motors. I know you don't like your new (but not new) Chevrolet LD trucks tarted up as HD being handled by an old Ford, but the truth is what it is. Third rate trucks are what TRM builds.
GM brings a look to their new release pickups that resembles the 07-14 GMT900 pickups and they are hung out by nearly everyone, Ford runs the same basic HD truck since 99 and no says a word. That is the difference between selling the most HD pickups in the market and selling the 3rd most HD trucks (out of 3 OEMs).
They need(ed) to really "bring it" on this new release, both in looks and performance, they did neither.
There is no doubt that the current Duramax will pull very well. However you cant be last in hp and torque by nearly a 100 foot pounds, you cant. You have to be either on the top or within an amount that most consider not revelent, in my view, that is 10-15 both in hp and torque, but not 100. People want the most for their money, and if all things are equal with no brand biased, most truck guys are lured by big numbers, both in power and capacity.
When your not at the top of pile, you better work your ass off to be on top, GM simply has not done that in either the half tons or the HD pickups. They needed to take some chances and they played it way to conservative.
Personally I am good with the interior of the GM 2015 product, I think it is well done, but other than test drives I have not had to live with it either.
I will buy a new HD pickup when they release the more powerful Duramax in these trucks. It is not that I don't think the current settings are not adequate to pull my 20K around, but I think for resale value these current HD trucks five years from now are going to be harder to sell due to their reduced power settings. I may be wrong but I see where the lower powered LLY motors are valued compared to the LBZ motors and I see that replaying itself when GM releases their answer to the 2015 FORD.
Awkward read. And yes, it definitely plays to the pro-Ford crowd. This paragraph really shows off the lack of objectivity and the amateur blog-style journalism:
The Chevy was frankly, though arguably, the worst of the bunch. We found the design ungainly and poorly engineered with its floating center console. Further, the passenger side features a second storage box above the glove box. Unlike the Ram, which hides the handle effectively, the handle is in plain sight on the dash. This is just simple poor designing. The rubber pad buttons on the steering wheel are of a low-grade quality and will, we imagine, crack in the heat after a few years. Though you could not go wrong with any of the seats offered between the three trucks, the Silverado felt slightly less comfortable than the Ram and Super Duty.
Regarding MPG being the worst of the bunch in the Ford:
From the test, the Super Duty clearly showed it had more power, however, it had the inverse relationship with fuel economy. The latter probably will not matter much to the buyer who actually chooses a truck for power is typically considered the key in this class.
A lot of people buy the diesel HD's for power. This is why there is such a huge aftermarket for them.
Do any of you people live in RV country, where the weekends find more 5th wheels and TT's being towed, than non laden trucks on the road??
As for fleet sales................... once again, they are only bad when someone else does them. GM makes a point of patting themselves on the back when their commercial and government fleet sales go up, and folks here applaud, stating that just proves how desirable the vehicles are. Ford does it, it is because they are giving away trucks for nothing.
Double standard much??
PS, Ford does not care who writes the check. Whether it is the owner of a landscaping business, or the guy looking to buy his 3-axle toy hauler. The money spends exactly the same.
They all have plenty of power. They all get expected diesel mpg.
People buy what looks the best to them and what they are loyal to, especially truck buyers.
Since I actually bought a $58,000 diesel HD a few months ago, I just had to ask my self why, not a chart. All of the trucks would have done the job. I prefer GM whether it gets absolute tippy top number one with all of the sheepish "I bought what other people buy!"ness or whether it sucks hind titty compared to the pack. In this segment, hind titty is more powerful than you can legally haul by DOT regulations.
15,500#s?
Please........
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